From kde-devel  Wed Feb 09 15:20:15 2005
From: Benjamin Meyer <ben () meyerhome ! net>
Date: Wed, 09 Feb 2005 15:20:15 +0000
To: kde-devel
Subject: Re: Questions about splitting kdebase into a plethora of packages
Message-Id: <200502091520.15313.ben () meyerhome ! net>
X-MARC-Message: https://marc.info/?l=kde-devel&m=110803629806914

On Wednesday 09 February 2005 11:14 pm, Lokheed wrote:
> Recently my distro (Gentoo) has taken it upon themselves to split
> KDEBASE into 200+ packges. Portage (the package manager) runs off
> ebuilds and several hundred were made that effectively allows a user
> to install various programs and components of KDEBASE without the need
> to install the whole program.
>
> They have also decided not to support the offical release (KDEBASE)
> and instead rely on these split ebuilds for installation.
>
> I have growing concern that this will cause problems in KDE and its
> functionality along with its stability.
>
> Here is a small fraction of the packges that are now available:
>
> =kde-base/kcontrol-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebase-applnk-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebase-kioslaves-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebase-l10n-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebase-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebase-pics-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebase-startkde-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebindings-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdebugdialog-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdeedu-applnk-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdeedu-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdegames-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdegraphics-kfile-plugins-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdegraphics-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdejava-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdelibs-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdelirc-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdemultimedia-arts-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdemultimedia-kappfinder-data-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdemultimedia-kfile-plugins-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdemultimedia-kioslaves-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdemultimedia-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdenetwork-filesharing-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdenetwork-kfile-plugins-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdenetwork-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdepasswd-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdepim-kioslaves-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdepim-kresources-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdepim-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdepim-wizards-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdeprint-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdesdk-kfile-plugins-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdesdk-kioslaves-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdesdk-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdesdk-misc-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdesdk-scripts-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdesktop-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdesu-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdetoys-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdeutils-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdewebdev-meta-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdf-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdialog-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdict-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdm-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdnssd-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kdvi-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kedit-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/keduca-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kenolaba-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfax-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfile-desktop-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfile-folder-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfile-html-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfile-lnk-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfile-txt-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfilereplace-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfind-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfloppy-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kfouleggs-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kgamma-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kget-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kghostview-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kgoldrunner-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/kgpg-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/khangman-3.4.0_beta2
> =kde-base/khelpcenter-3.4.0_beta2
>
>
> I would really like the opinion of the KDE devs on whether this is a
> sound practise or even a sound decision. I am an inexperienced coder
> and just started taking programming so many concepts are over my head
> but my concern about the stability of KDE in Gentoo is shaken to say
> the least.
>
> My biggest concern is the fact that KDE may need certain programs
> (like kcontrol, among others) to run error free. Kcontrol happens to
> be a seperate ebuild so using the new Gentoo system, it is not a
> required install.
>
> Is this new method safe and my worry based on nothing? Any guidance
> into the subject would be greatly appreciated as I am getting nothing
> but closed doors and insults from the Gentoo devs I raise my concerns too.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Lokheed
>
> >> Visit http://mail.kde.org/mailman/listinfo/kde-devel#unsub to
> >> unsubscribe <<

The biggest problem is the most apps only require kdebase without specifying 
what.  Developers assume that kdelibs and kdebase will always be installed 
and will continue to do so.  I really doubt that the Gentoo dev's are able to 
list every dependency.  It honestly seems like a lot of work for little gain 
as there is even inter kdebase dependencies.

-Benjamin Meyer

-- 
aka icefox
Public Key: http://www.icefox.net/public_key.asc
 
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